The San Fernando Police Station | Contributed Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Additional cops have been deployed in San Fernando town in southern Cebu following the gruesome killing that claimed the lives of an aspiring councilor and her husband.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia confirmed that the local government of San Fernando requested authorities to boost police visibility if it meant putting a stop to the spate of killings in the town.
“I was with Col. Soriano (Police Col. Engelbert Soriano, director of Cebu Provincial Police Office), and Mayor Neneth (Reluya) requested for more police visibility,” said Garcia.
Still-unidentified perpetrators killed Balungag barangay councilor Ma. Louela Dela Cerna Baringui-an and her husband, Pedro, inside their residence in Brgy. Panadtaran last Sunday, February 13. Louela was gunning for a seat in San Fernando’s town council, and she was part of the present mayor’s slate.
Garcia, together with incumbent San Fernando Mayor Neneth Reluya and the provincial police, held a closed-door meeting with the grieving family on Monday, February 14.
“Naluuy kaayo ko sa anak kay she witnessed the whole gruesome violent incident,” she continued.
The governor was in San Fernando that day to lead the distribution of rebuilding assistance to residents devastated by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai).
She hoped the additional police officers sent to San Fernando would help maintain peace and order there, especially with the elections drawing near.
“To assure the residents of San Fernando that this will not become a repeat of the 2019 series of shootings that had happened,” added Garcia.
Police are considering several possible motives to explain the killings of the Baringui-an couple. These included robbery, personal, business and politics.
Back in 2019, months before the Midterm Elections took place, the spate of killings was recorded in San Fernando, a second-class municipality located around 38 kilometers south of Cebu City.
Most of these cases involved public officials.
Based on CDN archives, four elected officials in San Fernando, including Baringui-an, were killed since 2018.
Last 2021, another high-profile individual from San Fernando, businessman Ruben Feliciano, was killed outside his house in Brgy. Apas, Cebu City./ rcg
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